We began with the fabric itself—one continuous piece engineered to form the elegant shape of a cycling bib. The process, our patternmaker explained, was like crafting an intricate origami figure from a single sheet of paper. The fewer the seams, the greater the comfort: fabric that stretches and compresses fluidly, responding to the body's contours without resistance, especially in the crouched posture of a cyclist. This simplicity in design not only enhances functionality but also creates a clean, sleek aesthetic.
The straps lie flat, unobtrusive on the shoulders, and seamlessly integrate through the midsection. Their purpose is twofold: to anchor the chamois securely and to prevent excess fabric from shifting, which can lead to chafing. At the legs, raw-cut silicone grippers grip firmly but gently, holding their place without pinching—a finishing detail that underscores the union of precision and comfort in every seamless line.
Pretty Okay at Bikes Pink woven label.
Elastic Interface Paris HP chamois rated for 7+ hours in the saddle.
First we reduced the number of panels, seams, and stitches by engineering a single piece of fabric into an elegant bib form, our patternmaker explains the process being a bit like making a precise origami pattern out of a sheet of paper. Fewer seams yield a more comfortable fit by allowing the fabric to stretch and compress more easily; moving with your body with less restriction, especially in a cycling crouch. As a bonus, It gives the bib that super clean, sleek look. The lay-flat straps don't bind on your shoulders and they are integrated to pass through the midsection to better hold the chamois in place by keeping the pad taut and preventing the excess fabric from chafing your thighs. Impregnated raw-cut silicon grippers stay on your thighs without impinging.
Woven fabrics yield a thinner, denser, and more durable bib. A woven fabric is also far more abrasion-resistant and has better shape retention than knitted fabrics — at about 30% less weight. Shape retention is crucial for cycling bibs as they need to maintain their fit over time, even after heavy use and washing. The rich deep flat-black color and texture make the rest of your kit pop a little more. Woven fabric, combined with the seamless pattern, complements each other's strengths and is the key to the performance jump you will experience with a top-tier bib.
We prototyped dozens of identical bibs with our new pattern, each with a different high-end pad, to find the most comfortable option. One pad was a clear winner: the Paris HP from Elastic Interface. Surprisingly thin for a pad created for all-day events, the pad's secret is its ultra-high density inserts in the perineal and ischiatic areas that make it perfect for all roads and even the most demanding events. In English: that means the more pressure you put on it, the more resistance it gives without bottoming out, like a good mattress.